Weekly CA Quiz: May 2020 3rd week

The government announced a Rs 1.63 lakh crore package for agriculture and allied sectors aimed at strengthening infrastructure, logistics and capacity building at farm gate.

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda launched the “GOAL (Going Online As Leaders)” programme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in partnership with Facebook at a Webinar in New Delhi .

Slovenia is the first country in Europe to declare an end to its coronavirus outbreak, its government declared, after a dramatic slowdown in new cases.

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs 1,500 crore for Punjab to ensure continuous credit flow to farmers, through state cooperative banks, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country’s foreign exchange reserves surged by $4.235 billion to $485.313 billion in the week to May 8 on account of rise in the foreign currency assets, according to the Reserve Bank of India.

The global economy is expected to suffer $5.8-8.8 trillion in losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, said by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in a new report subsequent to its economic outlook released in early April.

Facebook had acquired the animated graphics startup GIPHY and would integrate the company in its Instagram visual social network.

The Andhra Pradesh government constituted a five-member High-Power Committee to probe into the causes behind the leakage of styrene gas from the LG Polymer plant at RR Venkatapuram in Visakhapatnam, which claimed 12 lives, and take stock of the recovery steps being initiated. It will be submitting its final report within one month.

The government announced an additional Rs 40,000 crore allocation for the rural employment guarantee scheme to help provide jobs to migrant workers returning home.

Government of India, West Bengal Government and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, AIIB signed a loan agreement for a 145 million dollar project to improve irrigation services and flood management in the Damodar Valley Command Area in West Bengal.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration approved the appointment of senior vice president of HDFC Bank Zubair Iqbal as the new managing director of Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

Iran’s governor to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Kazempour Ardebili has passed away after suffering a brain hemorrhage and falling into a coma.He was 68.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is celebrated every May 17 to celebrate the power of telecommunication and its importance in building relationships across cultures around the world.The theme this year is: Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

World Hypertension Day is observed on May 17 every year to help raise awareness about high blood pressure, how it can be prevented and managed.The theme of World Hypertension Day 2020 is “Measure Your Blood Pressure, Control It, Live Longer.”

 In Madhya Pradesh, in a first of its kind of initiative, Charan Paduka campaign has been started for the migrant labourers passing through the state.

A LAND pooling model enabling corporatisation of agriculture, opening up EPF and ESIC for the unorganised sector, merging the MNREGA with skill development programmes to create a wage subsidy programme —- these are some of the proposals that have been drafted by a Group of Ministers (GOM) on employment and skill development.

 Bengaluru-based Canara Bank, the fourth-largest public sector lender, has launched a special business vertical dedicated for gold loans.

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) said it has disbursed Rs 20,500 crore to cooperative banks and regional rural banks (RRBs) for on-lending to farmers.

American brokerage Goldman Sachs expects the Indian economy to contract by 5 per cent in FY21, making it the worst performance by the country ever.

The Bundesliga of Germany becomes the world’s first major sports event to resume after COVID-19 lock down.

 Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is about to be sworn in as PM for the fifth time amid the coronavirus epidemic.

 Lieutenant General PS Rajeshwar, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command, commissioned INLCU L57 into the Indian Navy at Port Blair.

Renowned Bengali fiction translator Gopa Majumdar, best known for her English translations of Satyajit Ray’s famous detective series ‘Feluda’, passed away following a cardiac arrest. She was 64.

International Museum Day 2020 will be celebrated on May 18 this year. The event highlights a specific theme which changes every year to reflect the basis of the international museum community’s preoccupations. The International Museum Day is celebrated each year with a different theme.The theme for International Museum Day 2020 is Museums for Equality: Diversity and Inclusion.

Legendary singer Lata Mangeskar has sang a song titled as JAYTU BHARATAM saluting the spirit of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

India has given USD 2 million in support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency working for the welfare of Palestinian refugees in assist of its core programmes and providers, together with schooling and well being, amidst the coronavirus disaster.

Kotak Mahindra Bank has introduced video-KYC facility for customers opening savings account on Kotak 811 – the banks digital banking platform.

Extremely severe cyclonic storm Amphan over the west and central parts of Bay of Bengal has intensified into a super cyclone with wind speed above 200 kmph (kilometres per hour) on Monday afternoon, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has formally resigned more than a week after his coalition government fell apart, in a move that could help end a long-running political crisis in the country.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched a new mobile app named – the ‘National Test Abhyas’. The App has been developed by National Testing Agency-NTA to enable candidates to take mock tests for upcoming exams such as JEE Main and NEET under the NTA’s purview.

Veteran Marathi writer and playwright Ratnakar Matkari has died at a hospital in suburban Marol . He was 81.

Ruskin Bond’s new book titled ‘Hop On: My Adventures on Boats, Trains and Planes’ was released on his 86th Birthday in an e-book format.

Mee Annapurna, an inclusive programe has been launched for the welfare of farmers and Bhoomiputras in Maharashtra.

In order to spread awareness about psychological impact of lockdown and measures to be adopted to overcome them, Department of Information and Public Relations, J&K has started an initiative ‘SUKOON’ – COVID-19 Beat the Stress”.

Labour ministry has notified lower rates of provident fund (PF) contribution at 10%, thus increasing the take home salary of 4.3 crore provident fund subscribers and giving relief to 6.5 lakh establishments.

The National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) has provisionally suspended two powerlifters Savita Kumari and Ankit Shishodia for violating anti-doping rules.

Govinda Rajulu Chintala has been appointed the chairman of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

The World Bank appointed financial crisis expert Carmen Reinhart as its new vice president and chief economist, leaning on the expertise of the former International Monetary Fund executive as the Covid-19 pandemic plunges the global economy into the deepest recession since the Great Depression.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan is set to take charge as the chairman of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board.

World Metrology Day is celebrated annually on May 20. The day is the celebration of the signature of the Metre Convention on May 20, 1875, by representatives of seventeen nations.The theme for World Metrology Day 2020 is Measurements for global trade.

The Union Cabinet gave nod to launch a special liquidity scheme worth Rs 30,000 crore for stressed non-banking financial compa

Abhas Jha, an Indian economist, has been appointed by the World Bank to a key position on climate change and disaster management in South Asia.

The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.The theme of the 2020 edition is Our solutions are in nature.

The Union Cabinet extended the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY), a social security scheme for senior citizens, for three years till March, 2023.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath launched the ‘UP Start-up Fund’ to be managed by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

The Reserve Bank announced a Rs 15,000-crore line of credit to the Export-Import Bank of India, for a period of 90 days from the date of availment with rollover up to a maximum period of one year so as to enable it to avail a US dollar swap facility to meet its foreign exchange requirements.

The Reserve Bank of India has cut key repo lending rate by 40 basis points to 4%. This is expected to bring down lending rates and deposit rates as well.

Samsung India has partnered with social media giant Facebook to train offline retailers to go digital.

TS Tirumurti, India’s new Permanent Representative to the UN, presented his credentials virtually as he assumed charge as the Ambassador amid the coronavirus pandemic.